cooper



2 Sheets-Sheet I. I

W. E. COOPER.

Patented Nov. 8, 1859.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. E. COOPER.

Car Spring.-

Pat ented Nov. 8,1859.

of elastic action which two series of the STATES PATENT OFFI'QE.

W. E. COOPER, 'OF DUNKIRK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES D. GIBSON, OF NEW/V YORK, N. Y.

HANGING OR ARRANGING Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM E. COOPER, assignor to Charles D. Gibson, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in the hanging and arranging of cylindrical, conical, or spiral steel railroad-springs for railway-cars, and that the following is a full and exact description of my said improvements, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the manner and means of arranging and operating such springs in groups or series of four or more springs placed in double lines vertically so as to possess the length springs would have if placed the one above the other, while the space which they occupy vertically is very much less than they would require, if the springs were placed 1n pairs one above the other.

In the accompanying drawings Figure I is a side or oblique elevation of a group of four springs, and of the stirrup or suspension bracket by which they are suspended, and of the top plates or cups in which they are set. Fig. II, represents vertical cross sections of the bracket or stirrup irons and of the cups for receiving the springs. Fig. III, is a top or surface view of the two horizontal plates which crown the pairs of springs in group. Fig. IV, is a vertical cross section of the bracket or stirrup at right angles to section in Fig. II.

In the accompanying drawings the springs represented are Perry G. Gardiners conically coiled steel springs, having an open central space or vertical axisand the suspension brackets or bars are adapted particularly to their use, but will answer for any other cylindrical spring.

My improvements in hanging springs in groups of four is shown in Fig. I, when S, S, are the two lower springs placed small end downward, side by side, their upper edges being parallel with each other. Upon the upper edge or periphery of S, is placed the sus ension bracket B, having its cup or cap to t the head of the spring; it extends downward by the side of spring S, to B, that is to say, about three fourths the'length RAILROAD-CAR SPRINGS.

26,068, dated November 8, 1859.

of the spring S, when it is bent at right angles and continued in a horizontal direction (B,) the length of the largest diameter of the spring to form a base for suspending spring C, when it turns vertically upward (B,) until it reaches the top of the spring S, when it again becomes hori zontal so as to cover with its cap the head of S; after covering head of S, it is again bent downward to the same parallel with B, when it is again bent in a horizontal direction to form a base for sustaining spring C, as shown (in Fig. I,) by the dotted lines forming the continuation of C; the brackets B, B, B, B, are then turned upward and become again connected with B, at the cup or cap of spring S. The two pairs of springs thus arranged stand each in the angle made by the others, so that their caps are diagonal, and at right angles to each other as shown in Fig. III, at B, B, D. The two lower springs S, S, stand upon a plate on the lower beam A, and to hold them securely in place, they stand on conical studs, or vertical projecting short pins as seen at 2, Fig. II. I

The lower horizontal part of the bracket at B, should just be so far above the sup porting bar A, as to allow the springs S, S, full play, that is, to shut down upon the spiral coils; and at the same time the cap of the two springs C, O, should be so far above the plate crowning the springs S, S, as to allow in like manner the spirals of O, O, to shut down upon each other; so that by this means the whole length of elastic leverage of the two springs C, S, is attained, while the vertical space which they would occupy if placed one directly over the other, is reduced about three quarters of the height of one of the springs.

As a guard or shield to the springs, I place a thin boiler-plate iron disk upon the head of each spring, between which disk and the under surface of the crowning cap I place thick felting; the cap is flanged to receive the head of the spring and disk upon it as into an inverted cup; by which means the springs are held in place at the crowns or top; the upper crown plate is firmly secured to the proper appendage under the car for swinging the car upon the springs.

This arrangement and form of the comprovements in the foregoing, and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination and arrangement of groups of four springs by and with the sus- 15 pension bracket or stirrup, B, B; &c., constructed arranged and operating in the manner above described.

WM. E. COOPER.

Witnesses:

D. BooKsTAvER, WVALTER WV. HOLT. 

